However, when it came time to announce the Atlantic Sun Championship's Most Valuable Player, there was no doubt whose name would be called.

Stetson University senior pitcher Meredith Owen was dominant from start to finish, posting a 4-0 record and a 0.50 ERA. She allowed a paltry two runs and 14 hits while tossing all 28 innings in the circle for the Hatters.

"It is probably one of the greatest honors I have ever received," Owen said about the MVP selection. "The conference is amazing. It is so hard to come in and play these teams day in and day out. Even the ones that didn't make it (to the tournament) are still tough competitors. Just to be up there with all of them is such an honor."

Owen held her opponents to just a .141 batting average throughout the tournament. However, she became even tougher to hit against in pressure situations. With runners on base, Owen held her opposition to just 2-for-34 at the plate (.059), and with runners in scoring position, opponents were 0-for-11.

"She never loses her composure," Stetson head coach Frank Griffin said. "She can hit a batter, they can hit a home run off of her, but never, ever does she lose her composure. That's what makes her the great pitcher that she is."

The Jackson, Miss. native also helped her own cause at the plate, hitting a three-run home run in the semifinal win against Mercer. In addition, she was intentionally walked twice and scored the championship-clinching run on Saturday.

Humble as ever, Owen was quick to share the MVP honor with the rest of her teammates.

"I could have never have done it without these girls," Owen said. "My pitching is not anything without the runs they score. It is not anything without the pitches that (catcher Jessica Griffin) calls. My hitting is not anything without someone in front of me and behind me to hit as well. I could not have done it without them."

Pitching 28 innings over a span of four days is a daunting task, but Owen appeared to handle it with ease. How was she able to do it?

"I don't know and I am not going to ask," Frank Griffin said.

Owen said she put in many hours of strength training and conditioning to physically prepare for the long grind of the season. However, as honored as Owen was to be selected tournament MVP, it was holding the team trophy and celebrating with her teammates that made her efforts worthwhile.

"It is the most special thing ever," Owen said about winning the championship. "It is so wonderful. I would not want to be with anyone else. These girls are amazing and they are my best friends."